I’m on my senior year of high school and am planning on joining the Air Force. You literally answered all the questions I was concerned about. Thank you ❤

I love the fact you brought up black women in BMT I stan this content ☺️ super diverse thank you

this was probably one of the best most help videos i’ve seen before leaving for bmt. i was so scared about allergies!! i had no idea they would actually give you anything for it. I thought i would have to suffer the whole time. thank you thank you for this video!!!!

In terms of dealing with, “drama” just remind yourself of this: there is an extremely rare chance that you will ever see any of these people in your regular military career after graduation. So, “losing face” is not a thing if you lose an argument or back down or walk away from a situation that you would normally engage in. So, even though you may feel like you “lost” an argument, it won’t matter as you’ll most likely never see these people again. So don’t worry about just walking away worrying about what THEY feel about you.

The number one thing I was worried about was push-ups. I am so relieved to know that its not going to be as bad as I had imagined. I already knew that some people would say it's 90% mental 10% physical but I still didn't know how bad it was going to be. Thank you!

I left for BMT on 22 Aug 1989. Your experience at BMT is predicated 100% on the personality of your MTI. My MTI was SSgt Ernie Serrato. He was 100% hardcore 100% of the time. My flight never received a single liberty the entire time. Hell, not a single person in my flight ever went to chapel services in fear of reprisal. We would spend all day Sunday ensuring the dorm was up to our MTI’s standards. BMT is 100% what you make it to be. You will make some great friends. You will meet some really interesting people. You may even meet a person of the opposite sex whom you end up dating (happened to me!). You will have good days and bad days. You will have memories that will still make you laugh 30 years later. The one thing about BMT no one talks about is, you will have something in common with every person whom you ever meet in the USAF. Everyone you meet in the USAF has been through BMT. At BMT, do what you are told, exactly how you are instructed, as quickly as you can, and with attention to detail. The days go by slow but the weeks go by fast. Live each day from chow to chow. Arrive at BMT in shape. Aim high!

This is a great video you actually answer questions nobody answers like when you can poop and bout being able to get like allergy medication. Also I’m the same with make up I don’t go nowhere without it so when I finally go to bmt this is like a way to force myself to accept my face without make up lol

This video was really helpful. I have been thinking abt joining the AF for a while now. This video made me less anxious and more excited to want to join. Thank you so much. 😁

I love how transparent and detailed you are! Love it❤️

i really appreciate how detailed you were and bmt was something I was concerned about but this video makes it less concerning 😂 i start my process soon but I’m less anxious now

This helps so much!! I saw a video from quite some time ago and I was afraid men and women all sleep in the same place and use the same showers during basic training. This is somewhat comforting!! I don’t wear make up and I don’t have a lot of specific routines or anything, but I haven’t exercised a lot since I have been out of high school and I’ve been worried there would be super super high expectations even for not so fit people.

thank you for making this !! i'm currently talking with a recruiter to get in, and i've been so anxious around the idea of BMT. This was super enlightening !!

Hi Mikayla. The first thing I want to say to you is thank you for your service. I'm an old vet and I went through the Air Force BMT way back in 1972/73. A lot has changed since then, but a lot hasn't. I made friends with a couple women that were also going through it around the same time I was. Many of the things that you mentioned that could be unisex fit. The barracks I used when I went through no longer exist. They had been built back during WW2 and the Korean war. GI parties were the norm for us. Take care, and I hope you enjoy your time in the service like I did.

Probably the best video and explanation I’ve seen !! I am really thinking about Air Force ,I did Jrotc for 3 years in high school and after graduation (in 2021) I couldn’t go to military because of documents that I was waiting to get and finally I got them in 2023!! Your videos is helping me a lot because I am scared about basic training specially being a woman but your videos is making me like “yes it’s not easy but not that bad “ lol but thanks a lot for sharing your experience!!!

this is a GREAT video thank you! :) i’m joining in a few months and have been stressing the pt test you have totally eased my anxiety!

Seriously considering joining. This video was SO helpful! Diversity tip was great !

Awesome video, Mikayla. I was in the U.S. Army during the 90s. I love watching KZfaq videos about young people serving in the military today. Thank you for your service. =☆=

Back when I was in Army basic training (in 1964) I had an appendicitis attack while in my fifth week of training; (while on the bayonet training field). After the surgery, I received two weeks of convalescence. When I returned to Fort Dix, NJ I picked up my fifth week with another training regiment.

I love your inclusion of black women, definitely getting a follow from me sis! Great info and very comforting.

I’m 31 with a three year old. I’ve always wanted to go to the Air Force. Now more than ever. I honestly need a break from my life and rebuild a new one. 8.5 weeks is nothing. I hope I can get in

I went through AFBMTS starting 31 October 1985. I love your description of it as the most fun you never want to have again. So right! It is much different now than it was when I went through, probably harder, definitely longer they definitely pay you better. I have an immense respect for those of you who have followed on after I got out. Thank you for your service!

Thank you sooo much! Most of my anxiety comes from not knowing what to expect so this helps a lot

THANK YOU for being so specific!! im a girlie who cant really do a push up... and i am so nervous for basic... i leave in a week. but this absolutely calmed me down

I went through Army Basic in 1985. I was a few years older than most. The oldest guy in our company was 36. He got in before the cut off age. The older ones like me were okay. The younger guys like 17, 18, 19 tended to look to us for guidance. And to be honest with you, toward the end of Basic, I was starting to sneak paperback books to read. No cell phones. No internet. You got to make one phone call a week to home for maybe 10 minutes. Times and Basic/Boot change. So do the people as does our society.

Thank you so much. My daughter graduated from American Heritage 2 years ago and hasn't done anything since. As a retired AF veteran I'm hoping your video will inspire her since you are both about the same age. Also thanks again great video and the black hair information 😀

So helpful! I enlisted as a Reservist and go to basic this June

I leave for BMT in just a few months. This video was extremely helpful and answered all the questions I was avoiding asking my recruiter 🤣

Thank you so much for this video! I’m enlisting and will be going to Basic next year after I graduate high school. This was super helpful!

this was the most comforting thing i have ever watched , i love you.

You're not wrong! I went thru Lackland in July-Sep 1998, and situps wore a raw spot on my tailbone. Brought it up to my TI (SSGT McCully) and he fixed the problem for me!

Girl thank you! I leave in a month and i have had soooo much anxiety. Thank you so much for the info!

I’m not even kidding this video helped me more than any video on KZfaq. Thanks so much!! I have my first appt with my recruiter tomorrow

Very informative video. Thank you for being so open about this information!

Marine here 7:30 when you say you can’t run on a broken ankle. We had a mf in boot that had his leg kicked in on week 5 and he made it through the crucible (5 weeks later) on the 1st day of marine week he disappeared and then 2 days before we left they wheeled his ass in on a chair in a full leg cast and he had a double fracture in he leg😂 he still ran a 3 mile in 26 mins like that

leaving in 3 days and this made me feel sooo much relief. thank you for making this.

My son just completed his first week at BMT, and he is scheduled to graduate next month. We're really looking forward to Family Day, the Coin Ceremony, and graduation. Especially since his little brother's birthday is during Famy Weekend.

Don’t burn bridges is the most underrated advice that I need to take. Keeping your mouth shut goes a long way in basic. Also get on the ground and hug Texas is a gem of a phrase.

I’m blonde, but my mum is a hairdresser. I love that you’re SO detailed, you even brought up black hair. Incredible video. Thank you! 🙌

Only video I’ve found with all the things I’ve been wondering about👏🏼 Thanks girl!!

I'm a USAF Veteran, there weren't different color PT belts, we showered nightly and had plenty of time to shave, pits, legs, ect. There wasn't anything called Beast Week. And no makeup worn for graduation. The black ladies in Mt flight had time for thier hair. Voodoo ( Veronica Johnson) did one hand push ups. I had trouble doing enough push ups to graduate.we had to run a mile and a half in a limited time.

How many people are willing to deploy for a year, fight, rest, and go back for more? While extreme, there are AF folks that do that kinda thing. Tip of the spear jobs. It all starts in basic training. Show up in shape, mentally strong, and ready to learn. I read someone mentioned inclusion. When you join the military all races and backgrounds are included. It's about we not about thee. That statement has magnified a thousandfold while deployed. There is not a lot of time to deal with whining because it's hard. The hard and the challenge is what makes it great. It takes courage to walk a different path. Thanks to all the folks who join and fight for us. She makes informative videos. Listen and learn.

This video was so helpful! Thank you so much! Planning on going to MEPS in 2021. A video on that would be great as I'm nervous for that

i’m joining the air force soon (i’m just waiting for this darn waver😩) but i’m sooo excited!! this video is just getting me more hyped

I love how you said that fighting was not tolerated ..but here’s my boyfriend in marine bmt and his whole platoon resolved drama by fighting in the rain room and the drill instructors dgaf 😅

Thanks for the info! I ship to basic April 6th, 2021. I enlisted in the Reserve

I'm and old Navy Vet....Congratulations on a great video. I'm sure you're really helping a lot of woman. Going off to Boot Camp....Everybody has a lot of questions. Everybody!

your vids are very helpful im 17 and really wanting to go into the air force and your making me feel like i wanna do itvway more

thank you so much for this!! I'm thinking about joining and I am fully convinced now

one of the best bmt videos i've seen so far!

I'm very glad you touched base on birth control especially Depo, Cause I've been very concerned about whether you could still get your depo shot while in bmt and tech school, thank you

Wow, that brought back some memories. I know a lot has changed from when i went through in 1986. Spent 20 years in . Best decision of my life. You're doing it right. So many go overseas and are afraid to leave the base. See the world and enjoy it! Get stationed at Aviano, if you can. I was at Osan, Misawa, Germany and Italy. Italy wins, hands down.

Love the stuff about not wearing makeup. I went through the same thing! I feel so much more confident now

1st 3 days are rough and 4th wot is when things start getting repetitive and you begin seeing the holes In the training. Don t take short cuts. Do your job and stay focus. Oh and don’t get sent to med hold.

Honestly I miss my MTIs the most. I had a very hard time in basic unfortunately I didn’t fit the mold a lot of girls wanted in their flight and I was not treated good by many girls. I moved squadrons multiple times because of a knee injury but the people that I would not have been able to make it through mentally without was the MTIs. So thankful for them and don’t be afraid to trust them. No matter how “hard” they are. I hope not a lot of females have a hard time in basic a good luck if/when you ship out :)

Very good informational video. I know you are explaining from a girl's perspective. I joined the Army in 1987 at an older age and I wish I had more than just my recruiters opinion to go off of. Much of what you explain although keyed to girls, is the same with guys, and much was exactly my experience. At one time, I was interested in attending the Air Force Academy, but life changed my opportunities. Although accepted for Army OCS, I did not get to go. I took an enlisted spot repairing radars in West Germany. Regardless, I have to say that the Army was the greatest experience of my life. You will have a rewarding time in the Air Force. Keep inspiring our upcoming personnel.

This video is super helpful. I’m on the fence lol same anxieties you just mentioned.

I love you for this whole video truly ❤️ you’re very welcome I’m going to continue watching !

great video!! & i like how you got straight to the point ❤

if you do more videos like this, you should definitely talk about the immunizations and beast week :). i’ve heard a lot of people talk about how intimidating the shots looked because of how it is set up.

Thank you so much for this video, I want to join so bad, and I have been on and off about it. This video makes me feel more confident about joining. Honestly, the biggest thing that has been stopping me is honestly the shots, and bloodwork. I am not great with needles and have a tendency to pass out, not so much from shots anymore but from bloodwork it is still pretty common. I have mentioned it to a few others who have been in and most have said probably not, but I think I would handle the bloodwork better if they did it from my hand rather than my arm. I tend to handle it better and not pass out that way. I just don't know if they would do that if I asked them to

I know this video is intended for mainly females but I find this very insightful! I’m interested in joining the Air Force, so this video brought new insights to me

i ship out in about 29 days and this helped so so much girl !

Omg I love this so so so much. I was so worried about the push up area

Thank you so much, this was so helpful. I go to bmt March 9th!

I was wondering, do they give women vitamins during BMT? I was reading somewhere that they do just because women need that extra iron boost especially during that time of the month. Is that true? Also, thank you!! I loved the video! Praying I pass the ASVAB soon to get into the Air Force and make a life for me and my family.

Your videos are so helpful! I'm probably going to basic sometime during or after April and I was wondering about undergarments like bra's and all of that? Do they provide them, do you bring your own, or do you buy them there?

I am 18 about to be 19 and I been always being interested since little to be on the Air Force but i feel like i am going to fail due to my severe anxiety and social anxiety this video helped a ton so i am very grateful for answering all of my questions!😭❤️

A lot different in the early 90s😎😁. Your video should be shown to anyone who signs on to USAF BMT. Great job, Airman.🦅

thank you so much for this i’m glad i’m doing research now .

thank you so much for making this video!!!!! I ship out in August and i’m so nervous. this video helped calm me down:)

I’m going to BMT in October for Airforce reserve thank you for this!!!

I leave for basic next Tuesday, March 2. I have 4c hair (super thick, curly, nappy) and I was worried about getting my hair done in TIME !

Hey there! I love your BMT videos - they're really helping me out! I do have a couple questions for you when you have the time: Are we allowed to bring wet wipes? Should I bring a laptop with me, or have my parents ship it to me after BMT? Do you know anything about Crypto Linguists? Ok thats's it for my questions. Thank you so much for making these videos!!

This made me feel so much fricking better, thank you. i leave in 5 days

Regarding your comment about not being allowed makeup until graduation..I went in in 1976 and we HAD to put makeup on every day after pt. Even those who normally didnt wear it. Times change.

I served in the Marine Corps from 1967-1989 with 3 years in combat. Thank you for your service to our country. However, you would have never made it through the first day of Boot Camp and they wouldn't let you out of the Marines because they would keep recycling you until you received a medical diagnosis. It would have been your worst nightmare. However, Marines have a very different mission than the other services and we trained harder than the other services, for which I was eternally thankful when I was in combat. My first fulltime job out of college was as a Marine infantry platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-69. Hard year. We had lots of killed and wounded. The year was both mentally and physically exhausting with daily. There was a possibility of being killed or wounded every day. I didn't so much mind the firefights as I felt I had some control over the outcome though I came to understand that a bullet doesn't care who you are, how smart you are, or how competent you are. If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time--you are dead or wounded. The mines and booby-traps were the worse because it was always so unexpected and we operated in areas heavily mined. I don't think any woman except perhaps a world class athlete could have made it through that year in Vietnam. My platoon would be in the field on combat operations for 1-2 months at a time with only 3 days back at the company or battalion which was in the middle of nowhere and subject to being mortared or attacked. At the company position we could at least get some sleep and clean water to drink. At the battalion we could get a cold shower and some hot chow. However, I found the food at the battalion was too rich and greasy because I was so use to eating C-Rations in the field. The hot chow made me sick. Then it was back on combat operations for another 1-2 months. No showers. No potable water. Brutally hot in the dry season and non-stop rain during the monsoons. I also lost 20 pounds. Like I said--it was a hard year. Combat is 10 times more difficult than any training we received, but I'm thankful the Marine training was so difficult. It at least prepared me for the daily mental challenges in Vietnam. My other 2 years in combat were years later when I supported the host nation's counter-insurgency operations in a Latin American country. It was very dangerous, but not nearly as challenging as Vietnam. But two years in that environment was a very long time. Best of luck to you in your tour in the Air Force. I hope you find the experience rewarding and helpful in civilian life.

Jesus you are just breathtaking little lady. Thank you so much for your service, you deserve the very best that life offers. Again gorgeous lady and thank you for giving your life to serve and protect myself and my family and many many others as well your a very brave and selfless woman wonderful to see the new generation of soldiers that come In experience basic training and help others with the knowledge that you have gained and have the heart to share with others to either calm those who are scared to death of the unknown or just to share with civilians what it takes and what it's like to be a airman. Much love and respect from VA stay safe up there soldier.

This helped me so much, thank you!

Mikayla, you are drop-dead gorgeous!!! And thank you for your great service to this country.

Haha y'all had it easy with the water! We were canteens filled in the sink. Not to mention the minerals and florid you miss out on by filtering your water... You call it dorms like it's college! We called it barracks like it was training to be a soldier...

Wow, this was the opposite of what I experienced in army basic training. We were definitely not allowed to use the latrine whenever we needed. I remember one time we marched off to the next place. The drill sergeants put us in parade rest and walked away. Two hours later, we were still in parade rest and had received no further instruction from the drill sergeants. One guy peed his pants because he just couldn't hold it any longer. Also, they definitely ARE allowed to single you out in the army, and this happens frequently during Basic, although they also did collective punishment a lot.

Love this girl’s advice

Thank you I’m nervous but I’ll suck it up because I know the life I want and I definitely love to travel

“The most fun you’ll never want to have again” 🤣 So true!! I miss it but would NEVER want to do it again!

This is helping me out I was scared about going what I do if I catch a uti. And birthcontrol and everything you brought up I leave dec 19 😭❤️ thank you so much

Younger people who consider a future the Air Force, or Air National Guard may want to look into the Civil Air Patrol. I had an uncle who as in the Army Air Corp (WW2) then Air force, finally full time Air National Guard. Civil Air Patrol experience counted when joining the Air Force. CAP gives you military formation experience, uniform standards and such so you are less green than your pure civilian mates. BTW Basic training has been changed since the bad old days of the Draft. My brother was in the Army in the Late Seventies. He broke his foot 4 days in Basic, so he was held back. Between his 2 halves of Basic he saw the rules change. God Bless all who Serve Thank You.

Hi, first off thank you for the informative video! second, what’s the deal with mental health like ocd? i go to meps in a few weeks and i struggled with ocd a lot in my adolescence and early teen years, but now (turning 18 tomorrow) it’s definitely not as bad as it was so i’m not concerned about it. i’ve never been on any medication for it either, and my recruiter knows this. so my question is do they do a mental health background check at meps and will it disqualify me if i just tell them a white lie that i used to see a therapist in the past but don’t anymore, even though i do from time to time?

I'm not a female and I will never join the air force, but i watched the entire video and it was super interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

This was a great video.. my son just left this morning. tears..thank you for the video

Thanks for the super helpful video! I was really concerned about birth control because without it I would have absolutely debilitating cramps without it :/ A few more questions: Can you bring your mouth guard/retainer? And do they honor dietary restrictions/food allergies?

Thanks so much for this video. I want to join the military, and I needed this information.

Great video! Very helpful you answered questions no one else has answered for me. Is pull ups still part of PT?

I love this video! Thank you!

Thank you, This helped me a lot! I leave for air force basic july 23!

thanks for the vid, It got me some information needed

You're awesome! Thanks for the insight!

I don't ever remember using the latrine in BMTS other than being fortunate enough to take up before reveille sounded almost every day. Doing PC on a full bladder really, really sucked.

This is why most people should join ROTC if they plan on joining the military. It gives you a jump start and teaches you what to expect when you actually join the military. It's also very helpful with excersise.

Best video ever!!!New subscriber hereee

Wow things have really changed!! But even in 2000 basic was easy for me. Security Forces Tech school was wayyy harder.